David Hare's latest play, The Permanent Way, officially opens at the National Theatre Jan. 13.

Lloyd Hutchinson (top) and Kika Markham in The Permanent WayPhoto by John Haynes

A co-production between the National Theatre and Out of Joint, The Permanent Way is Hare's 12th play to be presented at the National and concerns the gradual disintegration of the British railway network. Hare puts the stuttering state of the trains down to the 1991 Conservative government's decision to privatize the industry, and his play is made up of first-hand accounts from politicians to passengers.

David Hare is the playwright of Plenty, The Secret Rapture, Racing Demon, The Judas Kiss, A Map of the World, Amy's View, Via Dolorosa, The Blue Room, Breath of Life, among others. He also penned the screenplay for "The Hours," for which he was nominated for an Academy Award.

The Permanent Way plays the National's Cottesloe Theatre. For more information, visit the National Theatre website, www.nt-online.org.